Heater for internal combustion engines



Dec. 8, 1959 w. L. HOETH 2,916,030

HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 29, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.)

Walter L. H08) -g 2 l2 INVEA TOR.

Y M M115 Dec. 8, 1959 w. L. HbETH 2,916,030

HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 29, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 2 v Fig. 3

Fig.4

Walter L. Hoe/h IN VEN TOR.

BY Q J QW Dec. 8, 1959 w. L. HOETH 2,916,030

HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 29, 1957 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig- 7 Wa/ferL. Hoe/h IN VEN TOR.

BY m mm HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Walter L. Hoeth,Fairbanks, Alaska Application July 29, 1957, Serial No. 674,882

'3 Claims. or. 123-1425 This invention relates in general to new anduseful improvements in attachments for internal combustion engines, andmore specifically to an improved heater for internal combustion engines.

In extremely cold temperatures the oil of internal combustion engineshas a' tendency to congeal. As a result,

not only is the internal combustion engine extremely difficult to start,'but upon starting the oil does not properly lubricate. As a result, inmany instances the bearings and journals receive excessive wear and thecylinder walls become scored. Most civilian establishments attempt toovercome the problem by using lighter weight oils in the winter time.However, most military establishments .use the same weight of oil allyear around. In either case the mere changing of the oil is notsufficient to prevent the congealing of the oil due to the lowtemperatures.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a crankcase heater which includes a component submerged in the oil in the crankcase or oil pan of the internal combustion engine so that thetemperature of the oil remains at all times such as to preventcongealment of the oil.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved crank caseheater for an internal combustion engine, the crank case heater beingconnected to the coolant system of the internal combustion enginewhereby the liquid of the coolant system forms a part of the heater, theliquid being first heated and then the liquid heating the oil in thecrank case of the internal combustion engine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved crank caseheater of the type which may be used in conjunction with tractors andthe like having inspection plates, the crankcase heater including amounting plate which replaces the normal inspection plate so that thecrank case heater may be attached to the internal combustion enginewithout any structural changes therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved crank caseheater which utilizes the coolant of the internal combustion enginefor'heat distribution purposes, the heater including a heating elementwhich is submerged in a portion of the coolant with a part of the heaterhaving the coolant disposed therein being submerged in the oil supply ofthe'engine so as to assure a properdistribution of heat.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved heater forinternal combustion engines, the heater being so constructed whereby aconventional type of electrical heating element normally used in coffeemakers and the like may be utilized for the purpose of heating the oilof an internal combustion engine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedheater for internal combustion engines, the heater being mounted in thecoolant system of the internal combustionv engine and including aheating element for heating the coolant, the heater being provided witha check valve'to induce thermal siphoning or circulation States Patentof the coolant and therefore not only assuring a concentration of heatfor the purpose of heating the oil of the internal combustion engine,but also for heating the coolant throughout the engine.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a crank case in atractor and shows mounted thereon one form of heater, the generalarrangement of the components of the heater being'shown; I

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially by theplane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure 1 and shows the generalcross-section of the heater and the manner in which the heater heats theoil disposed in the crankcase;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 33 of Figure 1 and showsthe general arrangement of the piping of the heater and the position ofthe electrical heating element therein;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially upon theplane indicated by the section line 44 of Figure l and shows the detailof an inlet fitting which includes a check valve to induce thermalsiphoning;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially'upon theplane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figurel and shows thespecific details of the outlet fitting including the mounting of theelectrical heating element therein;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken through an oilpan of a conventional type of internal combustion engine for automobilesand the like and shows the mounting of a modified form of heatertherein;

A and Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the center of'the heater of Figure 6 and shows the specific details thereof, anintermediate portion of the heater being broken away.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that thereisillustrated a fragmentary portion of a crankcase 10 of an internalcombustion engine. The crank case 10 is defined by an oil pan 12 whichincludes a side wall 14. The side wall 14 is provided with an inspectionopening, as is best illustrated in Figure 2, the inspection openingbeing referred to by the reference numeral 16 and being for the purposeof inspecting a crank shaft or other components of the internalcombustion engine which are normally disposed within the crank case 10.The inspection opening 16 is normally closed by means of an inspectionplate (not shown).

Mounted on the side wall 14 and closing the opening 16 is the heaterwhich is the subject of this invention, the heater being referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 18. The heater 18 includes a mountingplate 20 which is of substantially the same size and configuration asthe inspection plate which it replaces. The mounting plate 20 is securedin place on the side wall 14 by a plurality of fasteners 22 and issealed relative to the side wall 14 by means of a gasket 24.

Carried by the mounting plate 20 is a housing which is referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 26. The housing 26 includes anelongated body portion 28 whose cross-section is best illustrated inFigure 2. The body portion 28 has the opposite ends thereof closed byend walls 30 and 32. The housing 26 in combination with the mountingplate 20 defines an auxiliary oil receptacle which is communicated withthe interior. of the crank case 10 through an opening 34 formed in'themounting plate 20. It is to be understood that the dimensions of thehousing or jacket 26 are such that it does not materially increase theoil capacity of the crank case 10.

Carried by the jacket 26 is a heating unit which is referred to by thereference numeral 36. The heater unit 36 includes a first section ofpipe 38 which extends between the end walls 30 and 32 and securedthereto in sealed relation as by welding 40. It is to be noted that theopposite ends of the pipe 38 open through the end walls 30 and 32. Thepipe 38 is provided intermediate the ends with a right angle fitting 42which has threadedly engaged therein a second pipe 44. The second pipe44 extends at right angles to the first pipe 38 and is closed by a cap46. As is. best illustrated in Figure 2, the second pipe 44 extendsthrough the opening 34 in the mounting plate 20 and into the oil pan 12.The pipe 44, together with the pipe 38 are submerged in the oil 48 whichis disposed in the oil pan 12 and within the auxiliary oil receptacledefined by the jacket 26.

Carried by the end wall 30 is an inlet fitting which is referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 50. The inlet fitting 50 includes amounting plate 52 which is secured to the end wall 30 by welding 54. Themounting plate 52 is provided with acentral bore 56 which is alignedwith the bore of the pipe 38.

Secured to the mounting plate 52 by a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced fasteners 58 is a flanged fitting 60. The fitting 60 is sealedrelative to the mounting plate 52 by means of a gasket 62. The fitting60 includes an internally threaded boss 64 in which there is threadedlyengaged a pipe fitting 66 of a cooling system of the internal combustionengine. The flange fitting 60 is provided with a flap type check valve68 which abuts against the end of the pipe fitting 66 so as to inducethermal siphoning or circulation of a coolant of the cooling system.

Welded to the end plate 32 as at 70 is a T-shaped outlet fitting 72. Thefitting 72 is aligned with the pipe 38 and has threadedly engaged in oneend thereof a conventional type of electrical heating element 74. Theelectrical heating element 74 extends substantially the full length ofthe pipe 38 for the purpose of heating the coolant disposed therein. Theelectrical heating element 74 includes an electrical cord 76 having aplug 78 on one end thereof for plugging into any conventional electricaloutlet.

Also threadedly engaged in the outlet fitting 72 and extending at rightangles to the electrical heating element 74 is an outlet pipe fitting 80of the cooling system.

Inasmuch as the pipes 38 and 44 are mounted in the cooling system of theinternal combustion engine on which the heater 18 is mounted, it will beseen that the pipes 38 and 44 are normally filled with the coolant ofthe cooling system. The coolant must be a liquid type coolant and isreferred to by the reference numeral 82. The electrical heating element74 is of a conventional type used in conjunction with coffee urns andthe like and must rely upon a liquid source for the proper transmissionof its heat. Thus the electric heating element 74 properly distributesheat through the pipes 38 and 44 through the media of the coolant 82.Also, a large portion of the heat will pass into the coolant within theinternal combustion engine through thermal siphoning or circulation dueto the functioning of the check valve 68.

It is to be understood that inasmuch as the plug 78 may be plugged intoany conventional electrical outlet, it is merely necessary to park thetractor or other vehicle adjacent such electrical outlet and to plug inthe plug 78. During the night the capacity of the heating element 74will be suflicient to maintain the oil 48 at the desired temperature. Itis to be understood that the heating element 74 comes in differentcapacities and the proper size of heating element may be used inconjunction with the particular vehicle.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, it will be seen that there isillustrated an oil pan 86 of an internal combustion engine such as thatused in automobiles. The oil pan 86 includes a bottom wall 88 and sidewalls 90 and 92. Carried by the side walls 90 and 92 is a heater whichis referred to in general by the reference numeral 94.

The side walls 90 and 92 are provided with aligned openings 96 and 98,respectively, in which there are mounted opposite ends of a pipe 100,the pipe 100 extending transversely of the oil pan 86. Welded to theexterior surface of the side wall 90 in alignment with the pipe 100 is amounting plate 102, the mounting plate being sealed by means of welding104. It is to be understood that the mounting plate 102 seals theconnection between the pipe 100 and the wall 90. The mounting plate 102is provided with a central opening 106 which is aligned with the bore ofthe pipe 100.

A second mounting plate 108 is secured to the exterior surface of theside wall 92 by means of welding 110. The mounting plate 108 seals theconnection between the pipe 100 and the side wall 92. The mounting plate108 is provided with a central opening 112 which is aligned with thebore of the pipe 100. l

The heater 94 also includes an inlet fitting 114 which has a mountingflange 116 secured to the mounting plate 102 by means of a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced fasteners 118. The flange 116 is sealed withrespect to the mounting plate 102 by means of a gasket 120.

The inlet fitting 114 also includes an internally threaded boss 122 inwhich there is threadedly engaged a pipe 124 of a cooling system of theinternal combustion engine of which the oil pan 86 is a part. Positionedwithin the inlet fitting 114 is a check valve 126 of the flapper type.The check valve 126 engages against the inner end of the pipe 124 andfunctions to induce thermal siphoning or circulation of coolant throughthe heater 94 and throughout the internal combustion engine.

Welded to the mounting plate 108 as at 128 is a T shaped outlet fitting130. The outlet fitting 130 includes a first end 132 having a bore 134aligned with the bore of the pipe 100. The outlet fitting 130 alsoincludes a second end 136 which has an internally threaded bore 138 inwhich there is threadedly engaged a threaded portion 140 of anelectrical heating element 142. The electrical heating element 142 is ofthe conventional type used in coifee urns and the like and is providedwith an electric cord 144. The electric cord 144 may be provided with aplug (not shown) for plugging into any desired conventional electricaloutlet.

The outlet fitting 130 also includes a third end 146 which is internallythreaded and which has threadedly engaged therein a pipe 148 of thecooling system.

By connecting the pipe 100 into the cooling system of the internalcombustion engine, there is assured a liquid coolant supply within thepipe 100. Inasmuch as the electrical heating element 142 requires thatit be submerged in a liquid for the proper transfer of heat therefrom,the coolant serves this purpose. Further, a large amount of heat isdistributed throughout the cooling system of the internal combustionengine to assure that the upper portion of the engine is sufficientlyheated. Inasmuch as the pipe 100 is disposed below the level of the oil150 in the oil pan 86 and is completely submerged in the oil 150, itwill be seen that the heat transmitted to the pipe 100 by the heatingelement 142 will be likewise transferred to the oil 150 so as tomaintain it at the desired temperature.

When the heater 94 is used in conjunction with a conventional type ofinternal combustion engine, it is merely necessary for the operator ofthe vehicle to park the vehicle in such position whereby access to anelectric outlet is possible. Then at nighttime the cord 144 is connectedto the outlet and when the operator of the vehicle desires to start thevehicle in the morning the internal combustion engine is sufficientlypreheated.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A heater for an internal combustion engine, said heater being adaptedto be mounted on an oil pan and including a mounting plate, an openingin said mounting plate, a jacket secured to said mounting plate, saidjacket forming in combination with said mounting plate an auxiliary oilreceptacle, said jacket having ends, a pipe extending through saidjacket and passing through said ends, inlet and outlet fittings onopposite ends of said pipe for connection to a coolant system, anelectrical heating element disposed within said pipe for direct contactwith a coolant and passing out through one of said fittings.

2. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an oil panwith an opening therein, a heater mounted on said oil pan and includinga mounting plate, a opening in said mounting plate, said mounting plateopening being aligned with said oil pan opening, a jacket secured tosaid mounting plate, said jacket forming in combination with saidmounting plate an auxiliary oil receptacle, said jacket having ends, afirst pipe extending through said jacket and passing through said ends,inlet and outlet fittings on opposite ends of said first pipe forconnection to a coolant system, an electrical heating element disposedWithin said pipe for direct contact with a coolant and passing outthrough one of said fittings, a second pipe extending from said firstpipe through said opening for positioning within said internalcombustion engine oil chamber.

3. A heater for an internal combustion engine, said heater being adaptedto be mounted on an oil pan and including a mounting plate, an openingin said mounting plate, a jacket secured to said mounting plate, saidjacket forming in combination with said mounting plate an auxiliary oilreceptacle, said jacket having ends a pipe extending through said jacketand passing through said ends, inlet and outlet fittings'on oppositeends of said pipe for connection to a coolant system, an electricalheating element disposed said pipe for direct contact with a coolant andpassing out through one of said fittings, said inlet fitting including acheck valve to induce thermal circulation of water.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,608,537 Swanberg Nov. 30, 1926 1,781,840 Hannegan Nov. 18, 19302,122,585 Pollack et a1. July 5, 1938 2,521,462 Kinzelmann Sept. 5, 19502,575,274' Hess Nov. 13, 1951 2,712,815 Blessing July 12, 1955,

